Transmission gear



April 1930- I c w. HERZOG 1,753,784

TRANSMI SS ION GEAR Filed Oct. 7, 1929' 3 Sheets-Sheet l THANSMIS S ION GEAR Filed 001;. v, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet 2 is a view of a Patented Apr. 8, 1939 UNITE srares;

CARL W. HERZOG, or TOLEDO, oHIo TRANSMISSION GEAR Application filed October 7, 1929. Serial No. 397,851.

details and, to illustrate a practical application of the invention, I have selected a structure containing the invention as an example of the various embodiments of my invention and shall describe the structure hereinafter. The particular structure selected is shown in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a view of the mechanism selected and illustrates the drive connections. Fig. 2 is a front view of the mechanism. 3 is an edge view of the mechanism. Fig.

4 is a rear view of the mechanism. Fig. 5 section taken on the plane of indicated in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 section taken on the plane of indicated in Fig. 3. Fig. 7 section taken on the plane of the line 77 indicated in Fig. 5'. Fig. 8 is a view of a section taken on the plane of the line 8-8 indicated in Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a view of a section taken on the plane of the line 99 indicated in Fig. 5. Fig. 10 is a view of a section taken on the plane of the line 1010 indicated in Fig. 6. Fig. 11 is a top view of a gear block. Fig. 12 illus trates a side view of the gear block shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a top view of the mechanism and shows a means for regulating the speed transmitted.

In the particular form of construction shown in the drawings, a rotatable driving element is supported for rotation about an adjustable center and for rotation about its own axis. In rotating about an axis exterior to its own axis, it rotates the supporting member or the driven member of the mechanism. By varying the distance between the parallel axes about which the driving elethe line 55 is a view of a the line 66 is a view of a ment produces its planetary movement, a corresponding variation in the speed of ro tation is produced in the driven member. In form of construction shown, a driving p1n1on 1 isconnected to a flexible shaft 2 that may be, if desired, provided with two universal joints 3 and 4. The shaft 2 may be driven by any suitable power, such as the motor 5. The pinion 1 is rotatably supported in a bracket 10 that is connected to a rotatable plate 11. The plate 11,is slidably and coaxially supported with the ring gear 12. The plate 11 is provided with a slot 13 through which extends a shaft 14. The shaft 14 is connected to a hub 15 that is rotatably supported in a fixed plate 16. The plate 16 may be secured to a supporting base, such as by the brackets or legs 17. The ring gear 12 has a recess'in which the plate 11 is slidably mounted and secured by the lugs 18.

p The. ring gear 12 is provided with the external gear teeth 20, that mesh with the'pinionl, and the internal gear teeth 21 that engage with relatively fixed members for preventing slippage of the ring gear. When, therefore, the pinion 1 is rotated, the pinion wi'll follow the gear wheel 12 and move over the teeth and cause rotation of the pinion 1 about the axis of the shaft 14.

The shaft 14 extends through the hub 15, the plate 11 to which the pinion 1 is rotatably connected and the gear wheel 12. The hub 15 has an oblong projection 25 that fits the slot 13. Consequently, movement of the pinion l over the gear wheel 12 causes rotation of the plate 11 about the axis of the shaft 14 and also causes the rotation of the hub 15. The hub 15 is slip-keyed to the shaft 14 by means of the key 26 which extends into the slot 27 formed in the hub 15 with the result that rotation of the hub 15 will rotate the shaft 14 and the speed of the rotation of the shaft 14 will be considerably less than the speed of rotation of the pinion 1. The rotation of the revolutions per minute will depend upon the distance between the axes of the'pinion 1 and the shaft 14.

The-relative positions of the pinion 1 to the axis of the shaft 14 are obtained by the adjustment of the plate 11 relative to the shaft.

The plate 11 is provided with a rack 28 and a pinion 29 is rotatably connected to the hub 15. The pinion 29 is imbedded in the plate 30 which is secured to the hub by means of the screws 31. The pinion 29 is inserted in a recess formed in the plate and an outer bearing block 32 is secured to the end edge of the plate 30 by means of the screw 33. The pinion 29 operates to shift the plate 11 relative to the shaft 14 by rotation of the pinion which operates upon the rack 28. The pinion 29 may be rotated by shifting the shaft 14 which is provided with a rack 34. Consequently, by movement of the shaft 14, the location of the plate 11 and the ring gear 12 will be shifted relative to the shaft 14. Any suitable means may be provided for shifting the shaft 14 relative to the hub 15, such as the pinion In order to secure the plate 11, and the ring gear 12 in its adjusted relation to the shaft 14, notwithstanding the rotation of the plate and the ring gear, a plurality of members are located on the fixed plate 16 that have surfaces that limit the inner movement of the ring gear and the plate to points such that the axis of the pinion 1 will maintain its parallel relation to the axis of the shaft 14 and a constant distance therefrom as it moves over the ring gear 12. Also, the members are provided with engaging parts that prevent the ring gear slipping circularly by reason of the traction of the pinion which would otherwise cause the ring gear to move circularly in a direction opposite to that which it is intended to cause the pinion to rotate around the axis of the shaft 14. Thus, the plurality of members not only maintain the axis of the pinion at the constant adjusted distance from the axis of the shaft 14, but also prevent slippage as between the driving and driven mem her.

he inwardly extending teeth 21 of the ring gear engage a plurality of spiral or worm gears which are rotatably supported upon the fixed plate 16 and are located so that as the pinion 1 moves around the ring gear, the pinion will cause the teeth 21 to mesh with the spiral gears 40 in succession. In order to maintain the spiral gear in such relation to the worm gears that, notwithstanding the movement of the ring gear, the teeth 21 will mesh with the spiral teeth of the worm gears, the ring gear is provided with teeth 41 that mesh with the pinions 42 that are slip-keyed on the rods 43. Rotation of the pinions 42 and the rods 43 rotates the worm gear wheels 44 located on the ends of the rods 43. The worm gear wheels 44 mesh with the worm gear wheels 45 that are connected to the spiral gear wheels 40. Thus, as the ring gear 12 creeps in a direction that the pinion 1 is moved.

about the axis of the shaft 14, the teeth 21 will mesh with the teeth of the worm gears 40 in succession and thus prevent slippage 1n the opposite direction by reason of the traction of the pinion 1.

In order to provide adjustment of the worm gears 40, according to the adjustment of the plate 11, to the shaft 14, the shaft. 14 operates through the pinion 49 to rotate a shaft 50 that is supported upon the plate 51 The shaft 50 is provided with the pinion that meshes with an arcuate rack 53 located on the fixed plate 16 which will cause rotation of the plate 51 as well as movement of the pinion 49 about the axis of the shaft 14. Consequently, the shaft 14 has teeth 54, formed bead like in the surface of the shaft, to maintain its ongagement with the pinion 49 notwithstanding the rotation of the pinion 49 relative to the shaft 14, and also notwithstanding the rotation of the shaft 14 by the movement of the plate 11 the ring gear 12, relative to the pinion 49. The plate 51 is provided with a plurality of slots 55 that are, preferably, arcuate in form and are inclined to the radius of their centers. he gears 40 have supporting members that are shifted radially with respect to the shaft 14 by means of the slots 55.

The worm rs 40 and the shafts 43 are supported upon the plate 16 by means of the spools (30. The spools are provided with a pair of end plates 61 and 62 that are connected together by a shank 63. The shanks 63 of the spools G0 are located in the radial slots 64 and the plates 61 and 62 are located on oppo site sides of the fixed plate 16. The spiral gears 40 are rotatably supported in the frames that are secured to the spools 60 by means of the bolts 66 and the pins 67. The rod 43, associated with each spiral gear 40, is rotatably supported in a bearing (39 that forms a part of the frame and is also rotatably sup ported in a bridge 70 that is connected to the ring gear 12. The bridge 70 has a flange 71 that is provided with a ledge 72, and the ring gear 12 is provided with a channel 73 in which the ledge 72 is located. An auxiliary gear 7 4 is secured to the ring gear 1 to secure the 71 in its connected and slidal' le relation to the ring gear 12. The auxiliary ring gear 4 may be secured by the screws 7 to the ring gear 12. The bridge 70 provided with an opening 76 in which the associated pinion may be located. The parts of the bridge 70, located on opposite sides of the openings 76, for containing the pinion may be provided with openings 77 through which the shaft 43 extends. Thus the shaft 43 will be supported by the bearing block 69 at one end, and the bridge ?O at the other end, and the pinion 49 will be moved along the shaft 4-3 by the ring gear 12 as it moves to and from the worm gears 40 as the pinion 1. is rotated about the axis of the shaft 14. By reason of the n'iaintenance of a distance less than the radius of the ring gear between the shaft 14 and the pinion 1, the ring gear 12 is moved to and from the worm gears. The position of l ves-gran the worm gears and, consequently, of the mechanism associated with the worm gears 10, is determined by the position of the slots 55 which operate upon the pins that are connected to the shanks 63 of the spools 60. When, therefore, the plate 51 is moved, the pins 80 are shifted radially along the slots 6% to Vary the distances between the parallel axes of the pinion 1 and the shaft 14:.

The variation in the relative location of the axis of the pinion to the axis of the shaft produces variation in the revolutions per minute of the hub 15 and the shaft 14, since the ring gear 12 creeps in the direction of rotation of the pinion about the axis of the shaft. The reduction produced is substantially the same as the ratio of diameters of the pinion to the diameter of the circular path described by the pinion.

The change in reduction can be made without disconnecting the transmission either from the driving or the driven means Which is very desirable in many cases. The change is accomplished, in the particular form of construction shown, by changing the radial distances of the engaging surfaces of the spiral gears 4C0 which are maintained in gear engaging relation with the ring gear 12 by the pinions 42.

If desired, the driven device may be con-c nected to the hub 15 as by means oi the gear wheel 85, instead of with the shaft 14. The shaft may then be only used for changing or controlling the transmission gear.

I claim:

1. In a speed transmission gear, a floating circular member, means for varying the eilective radius of the circular member, an element movable over the circular member, and a rotatable element connected to the member and driven by the member according to the speed of rotation about the ellective radiant center of the circular member.

2. In a speed transmission gear, a tooth gear member having a rotatable center, a pin ion rotatable on and about the tooth gear member, means for varying the radius of rotation of the center of the member, and means for preventing movement of the tooth gear member in a direction opposite to that in which the pinion moves about the tooth gear member.

3. In a speed transmission mechanism, a tooth gear member having a rotatable center, a pinion, means for rotating the pinion about its own center and about the tooth gear member, a member slidably connected to the tooth gear member and rotated by rotation of the pinion about the tooth gear member.

4:. In a speed transmission mechanism, a tooth gear member having a rotatable center, a pinion, means for rotating the pinion about its owncenter and about the tooth gear member, a member slidably connected to the tooth gear member and rotated by rotation of the pinion about the tooth gear :member, a a shaft: connected'to the last. named member-and 1o:- 1 cated. in; the; center& of rotation, of: the icenter of:tliegtootlrgear-member: 5;. In: a speed transmissionmechanism, tooth gear member havingran rotatable cena ter, 31. pinion, means for rotating the pinion about its o-wn :center and about the'to'oth gears member, a' member; slidablyi connected. touthei tooth: 'memberand vrotatediby rot ation :of. l

the: pinion about: the; tooth gear" member,. a shaft connected to the; last named member-1 andi located in the? center of rotation i of the center-of; the tooth; gear: member; and -means: forradjusting: the tooth gear member relative to the shaftto vary the radiusiot .rotatiomotr the centen of the tooth gearxmember;

61. In. a speed'transmissi-on mechanism,. a tooth gear memberhaving a rotatable center, a; pinion movable: ov'er the: tooth,- gear' mem 7 her: and. about the :toothigea'rs member, a. plurality of: locking-members tori-engaging the. tooth gearz'member forpreventing; movements of the tooth gearmemberrginr redirectionope positei to the: movementaofsthez pinion about.

theto 0th gear member, theasali'd loekin'gimenr bers locatedlradially with respectto thecen-z terrot'rotationrof the center 'O thQ"tOOth gear member. 1

. 7 In aw, speed transmission] mechanism, a tooth: gearz member: having; a rotatable: center, a. pinion .movarble over-the; tooth gearrmemher-and about the tooth-gear member, a plu razlity of lo ckirrg: members I for" engaging. the tooth :gear memberztorfpreventing movements ofzthesito'oth; gear! memberiin aidirection oppoii site to the movement oftthe: pinion about the tooth gear member, the said loicking; members: locatedra'di'ailly' with; respect i to thee center of rotation of; the? center of the! tooth" gear member, and means for varyingttheiradiah distances between) the locking. members and thecenter-r oi rotation: of: the-centerr of: the tootlrgeanmember;

In. 351 speed; transmissionv mechanism,. a: tooth gean membei'rhaving F8; 1 rotatable center, a*pinion,.means; for; rotating thepinion. to, causeys'its a movement about the gear member, a plurality of gears for engaging the gearr member and located radially-aboutthe: center at rotation of theteenterrofi the'igear mem- 9. In a speed transmission mechanism, a tooth gear member having a rotatable center, a pinion, means for rotating the pinion to cause its movement about the gear member, a plurality of gears for engaging the gear member and located radially about the center of rotation of the center of the gear member, and means for varying the radial distances of the gears from the center of rotation of the center of the gear member.

10. In a speed transmission mechanism, a tooth gear member having a rotatable center, a pinion, means for rotating the pinion to cause its movement about the gear member, a plurality of gears for engaging the gear memher and located radially about the center of rotation of the center of the gear member, the gear member adapted to mesh with the said gears in succession.

11. In a speed transmission mechanism, a tooth gear member having a rotatable center, a pinion, means for rotating the pinion to cause its movement about the gear member, a plurality of gears for engaging the gear memher and located radially about the center of rotation of the center of the gear member, and means connected to the gear member for maintaining the gears in position to mesh with the gear member in succession.

12. In a speed transmission mechanism, a tooth gear member having a rotatable center, a pinion, means for rotating the pinion to cause its movement about the gear member, a plurality of gears for engaging the gear member and located radially about the center of rotation of the center of the gear member, means connected to the gear member for maintaining the gears in position to mesh with the gear member in succession, and means for adjusting the radial distance between the gears and the center of rotation of the center of the gear member.

13. In a speed transmission mechanism, a tooth gear member having a rotatable center, a pinion, means for rotating the pinion to cause its movement about the gear member, a plurality of gears for engaging the gear member and located radially about the center of rotation of the center of the gear member, the gear member adapted to mesh with the said gears in succession, and means for adjusting the radial distance between the gears and the center of rotation of the center of the gear member.

14:. I11 a transmission mechanism, a rotatable circular member, a driving element for engaging a peripherial portion of the circular member and movable along the peripherial portion of the circular member in one direction, and means for varying the diameter of movement of the center of the circular member.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

CARL W. HERZOG. 

